There is a real comfort in this story. John the Baptist, the powerful, austere man who held such a sway among the Jews, still had his moments of darkness. Imprisoned in Herod’s dungeon, he wondered: Am I a fool? Is this all there is? Was I wrong about the Jews?

John does not just brood on the question. He acts; he sends messengers to Jesus. And Jesus does not send back reassurances; he just asks the messengers to open their eyes and see the evidence of Jesus’ life.

Lord, in my moments of doubt and darkness, May I fill my eyes with you.

ARE YOU NEW TO OUR PARISH? WELCOME!
Welcome to those who want to make our parish their faith home. You may have come from other places. You may have been “away for a while”. Be assured that we love to have you among us. We would appreciate it very much if you identified yourself at Mass. It would also help if you would take the time to fill out a registration form. The next time you are with us, you may leave it in the collection basket or give it to one of the ushers or to the priest. Thank you and welcome.

The third Sunday of Advent is a “Rejoice” Sunday. We light the pink candle in the wreath; things are really looking up! Why? Because we can actually see the flowers on this shoot from the stock of Jesse that we reflected on last week! The blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk; there is justice for the oppressed, bread for the hungry, protection for the stranger, … To John the Baptist’s question, “have we got to wait for someone else?”, Jesus replies, “Look and see: here’s how salvation is seen, heard and touched, right now, in the flesh.”

If, after last Sunday’s Scripture descriptions, we are still asking, “yes, but how is Jesus acting here and now?”, then we need to stop and look. We need to look and see and support the many people and organizations that are patiently, slowly and surely making life gentler for “those who are bowed down”. The logos of many of them are on the bulletin board. Each one individually might be seen as just a grain of sand in the desert, but all together they make the wilderness exult!

“Look, your God is come!

Waiting with joyful anticipation: How do you feel, standing in silence as the priest walks down the aisle toward the altar at the beginning of Mass during this season of Advent? This too is waiting in anticipation, and symbolic of our Advent season. Here is an excerpt of an article in The Tablet a few years ago that explains this ‘joyful waiting’ quite well:

Advent means “The Coming”. We remember God’s historic coming in Jesus; we also pray to stay awake and on guard for his second Coming at the end of time. During Advent, it is good to keep reminding ourselves “God is come”. If that jars grammatically, try “God has come and is now here, where ever and however I happen to be. The Spirit, who lived in Jesus and raised him from the dead, now lives in me”. Just keep listening to the phrase being spoken to you. Don’t argue with it. Tell God your felt reactions; to the God who, in St. Augustine ’s word“, is nearer to me than I am to myself”. In this way you are allowing yourself to meet God in God’s continuous Coming and letting God be your teacher. “He who is your teacher will hide no longer, and you will see your teacher with your own eyes. Whether you turn to right or to left you will hear this voice behind you saying: “This is the way, follow it’”. (Isaiah 30:21) And God is come not only to me, but is present in every single human being. The way we relate to one another is the way we meet God in his Coming. (Gerry W. Hughes is the author of God of Surprises and God in all Things)

May this article also help us to reflect on the intent of our Sign for the Week, “Here’s How”. In the midst of the busy-ness of this ‘pre-Christmas’ time, we see that God is come now, that God is present in every human being and the way we meet God in his Coming is in the way we relate to one another.

May the logos on the bulletin board help us to look and see Christ’s face in our world today; and may they be inspiration for each of us to seek out our own “Here’s How” in and for the world. For more on these wonderful organizations, see the insert to this week’s bulletin.

SINCERE THANKS
To all who went out of their way to see me up and down, to and from Gatineau, Mayo and Buckingham, a sincere thank you! I now have my driver’s license and car to get around but am so grateful to all of you who could drive me about until this time. Thank you! (Signed, Father Gyan)

THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION IN PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS - THIS MONDAY, DECEMBER 17th AT 7:30 PM
Observing the Advent season is a uniquely Christian way of preparing for Christmas. Two other ways to get ready is to give a special place to encounter Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation -- in both the communal and the individual forms:

The Advent Penitential Service: Monday, December 17th at 7:30 p.m.
This is the communal way of celebrating what God offers us in Jesus.

Individual Confessions: Monday, December 17th after Penitential Service
The communal celebration does not exclude the possibility or the desirability of wanting to celebrate the same saving mystery in a more personal and individual way. The one does not cancel out the other.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT - THE CHANTERELLE CHOIR
December 19th at 7:30 p.m. OLV Church Hall, 490 Charles Street, Buckingham. Tickets are still available from Raymond at 986-3166 or at the Office 986-3763.

INVITATION TO FAITH SEEKING UNDERSTANDING, FAITH NURTURING MEANING…
Once again Saint Paul University is offering its Winter 2008 evening program. For details on the courses, please see the poster at the entrance of the church (OLV) or call 613-1393 ext. 2247.

PPC MEETING
The next PPC Meeting will be on Tuesday, December 18th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Rectory.

2008 SUNDAY ENVELOPES
The 2008 Sunday Envelopes are at the top of the stairs. There are blank boxes also, if you did not have envelopes previously. Please be sure to write your name on the first envelope.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS
There is a basket at the top of the stairs for your donations.

MASS SCHEDULE FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S

Date

Time

Place

Dec. 24th, Monday

6:45 PM

OLV

Dec. 24th, Monday

9:00 PM

St. Malachy

Dec. 25th, Tuesday

9:00 AM

OLV

Dec. 31th, Monday

7:00 PM

St. Malachy

Jan. 01st, Tuesday

9:00 AM

OLV

The usual weekend mass schedule remains

OFFICE HOURS

Monday and Thursday:

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday and Wednesday:

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Telephone messages are picked up on a regular basis throughout the week.

If you have any items for the bulletin, please send them to Alma before Wednesday afternoon
or email Gale directly by end of day Wednesday: galeandreggie@videotron.ca.